Electric furnace



0 O 9, nl4 9 5, n m 1 K y g E Em m2 NN amr] EWS v 4 EFZ, E Hmm DMJ 2 o d I/ Aw e w 6 Y J l l O l I 3 l 0.o v u A @ric @E INVENTOR A/V/'n Q/(eene d//U ATTORNEY .3, j@ my@ w Paten-ted Aug. 3.12, 1926.1" l

11,597,900 p n f umani' sfmssfPATENT OFFICE- n. or Pn'rsiannion, PENNSYLVANIA, nssIGNon 'ro wnsrINenoUsn -mcrrnrca murac'runnrre coiIPANY, a CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

marmo :stimmen Applloation nled January 23, 1925. I Serial No. 4,236.

My invention relates toelectric furnaces and particularly to resistor supporting inem- One of the objects of my invention is to provide an electricl resistorsupportingl member that is designed-to interlock `with an electric resistorin operative position. Y

Another object of my invention is to provide an electric resistor-supporting member that is desi ed to permit the interlocking thereof wit an electric resistor -and Vthe subsequent mounting of the resistor and the resistor supporting memberas a unit adjacent the furnace wall. t

In practicing my invention, I provide a plurality of spaced resistor-'supporting members, each member comprisinga pair of co' operative refracto barsor str1ps of an. well known electrical insulating materia;

The refractory bars are provided with aplurality of slots extending inwardly from one face thereof, each4 slot having an offset portion located substantially at the innermost portion thereof. The foiset portions of lthe slots of each bar are arranged in opposite relation to those of the adjacentv cooperating bar. The slots vare designed to be suiiiciently wide to receive a resistor member which when in proper operative sition is-inclosed by the offset portions of t e and firmly interlocked therewith.V

The resistor and the-spaced resistor-sup-- porting members-are interlocked as a unit and are installed in prop'er operative position adjacent to a wall of the furnace and supported by any well known structure.. One Asuch structure may comprise a bar of refractory electrically insulated members eX- tending inwardly into the furnace chamber from the wall and of 'substantially T-shape.

The resistor-supporting members extend therebetween and are maintained in operative' position by pin members that are located in the members of T-shape and in abutting relation with the resistor support? ing member.

l In the single sheet of drawings,

Fi re 1 is an end elevational view of a refractoryy member forming a part of a resistor-supportingmember embodying my inventiong Fig.` 2 is aside elevational view of the member shown inFigure 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of a com- 'vation of anot slots -plete resistor-supporting member embodying Amy invention;

' Fig. 4 is aside elevational f view thereof in which the cooperating refractory members are located in sister member; r

Fig. 5 vis a side elevational view thereof position-to 'receive a re- .with the refractory members arranged in operative position; y l

y Fig. 6y is a viewpartially in section and partially in side elevation, of an embodiment of my invention wherein a resistorsupporting member is supported adjacent to the wall of an electric furnace; and f A Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View in side'eleer embodimentof my invention.

A refractory bar 11 a plurality of slots '12 located in one face thereof. Each of the slots 12 has an offset port-ion 13 that is substantially of the same width as slot 12 and is located at the innermost portionthereof.` The refractory bar 11 is shown as having a laterally extending portion- 13 suitable for cooperating with some supportin means i'not shown. The particular shape o the refractory bar1`1` doesnot form a part of my vpresent invention and I therefore do not .be limitedlby the particular shape When the refractory bars 11 rand 14 are placed in'abutting cooperating position in such manner that the edge portions 17 and 1 8of the slots 12 and 15 respectively. are in alinement, the refractory members are in po refractory bar 14 has a plurality y s ition to receive an electric resistor member The electric resistor-.member may be of anydesired shape but I prefer to use a member having a' plurality ofv preformed substantially parallel extending return-bent 'convolutions ing substantially a bayonet joint. The endwise movement of the refractory members 11 and 1-/1 relatively to each other may be efl'ected by applying al force on the resistor members at the beginning of its introduction into the slots 12 and 15, the pressure exerted by the resistor member 19 against the faces 21 and causing the relative movement of the refractory members 11 and 14. lVhen the resistor member 19 'has reached its proper operative position in the offset portions 13 and 16 a pin member 2S is inserted in hole 2-1 that extends transversely through the blocks 11 and 1s to firmly secure the blocks in operative position whereby relative movement of one to the other is prevented.

In practicingmy invention, a number of of resistor-supporting members are located in spaced relation, the number depending upon the dimensions of the furnace in which they are to be installed and a resistor member located therein and interlocked therewith as hereinbefore described to form a unit. Spaced sets of'refractory resistor unit supporting members of substantially T- shape 25 extend inwardly from ay furnace wall 26. The sets of refractory T-shape members 25 are aligned substantially with the resistor-supporting members. The resistorsupporting unit is then, placed in proper operative position adjacent to the furnace wall 26 by a lateral and upwardly extending movement and permitted to rest on the upper face 27 of the lower T-shape member 25. A plurality of refractory pin members 28 are inserted through the member 25 of T-shape in an abutting position with the resistor supporting members 11 and 14 whereby lateral movement relatively to the members of T-shape is thereby prevented.

In case it is necessary to supply an additional amount of heat to any objects, notV shown, located in the furnace chamber, I provide a means of supporting a plurality of resistor members in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described. A refractory member 29 as shown in Fig. 7 has a plurality of slots 31 each having a plurality of offset portions 82 and 33. The offset portions 32 and 83 are adapted to receivea plurality of resistor members in the manner hereinbefore described when cooperating with similar oppositely directed offset slot portions in a cooperating refractory member not shown.

By providing a structure as hereinbefore described, a simple form of resistor-supporting member may be used in an electric furnace whereby the resistor member may be supported in operative position and .interlocked securely with ,the resistor support members. The structure provides Afor a readily removable resistor unit in case it is necessary for repairs to the furnace thereby providing a very practical and simple structure.

rIliis case is closely related to my copending application Serial No. 8202 filed Feb. 10, 1925, which is assigned to the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company.

Various modifications and changes may be made without departing .from the spiritand scope of the invention, therefore, I desire that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art or areset forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric furnace resistor-supporting member comprising a pair of similar c0- operating refractory members, having a slot therein having an offset portion, the members being arranged in opposed relation whereby the edge portion of the slots are aligned to receive a resistor, and by relative movement with respect to each other, cause the enclosure of the resistor by the offset portions of the slots to interlock said resistor in proper operative position.

2. An electric furnace resistor-supporting member comprising a pair of oppositely disposed refractory members having similar slots therein to form a bayonet joint with a resistor member for interlocking said resistor member in operative position.

3. An electric furnace resistor-supporting member comprising a pair of oppositely disposed refractory members having` slots therein, said slots having an offset portion to interlock with a resistor member in operative position.

4. An electric furnace resistor-supporting member comprising a pair of oppositely disposed refractory members having slots therein adapted to receive a resistor member upon relative movement of the refractory members with respect to each other and to interlock therewith in proper operative position.

5. An electric furnace resistor-supporting member comprising a pair of oppositely disposed refractory members having a plurality of slots therein adapted to receive the substantially parallel convolutions of a resistor member and to interlock therewith in proper operative position upon relative movement of the said refractory members.

6. An electric furnace resistor supporting member comprising la pair of refractory members having a plurality of slots therein adapted to receive the substantially parallel convolution of a preformed, return bent, resistor member and to interlock therewith in proper operative position upon a relative movement of the refractory members with respect to each other.

7. An electric furnace resistor supporting member comprising a pair of cooperating refractory members having a plurality of spaced slots therein, each slot having an offset portion, the members being arranged in opposed relation whereby the edge por-` 'formed return bent resistor and by relative movement with respect to each other, permit the enclosure of the resistor by the offset portion of the slots to interlock said resistor in proper operative position.

8. A'resistor-supportin member comprising a pair of oppositel isposed refractory members having slots t erein, said slots having offset portions adapted to interlock with a resistor member in operative position, and means engaging both of said refractor members for positively maintaining said olil set portions of the refractory members in interlocked relation with said resistor member. K

In testimony Whereof,;I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day 'of J anu- 20 ary, 1925.

ALVIN D. KEENE.y 

